• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.184-195
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• 2022

The invasive alien species Brassica tournefortii Gouan (Brassicaceae) is herein reported for the first time in Korea, from Gunsan-si, Gochang-gun, and Jeju-si. Brassica tournefortii can easily be distinguished from B. juncea and B. napus by its dense stiff hairs at the base of the stem and leaves, basally and distally branched stems, partially dehiscent fruits, and seeds that become mucilaginous in the presence of moisture. Although some taxonomists have classified this species as belonging to Coincya Rouy based on its fruit and seed characteristics, the existence of one vein on the fruit valves and our maximum likelihood analysis using internal transcribed spacer sequences placed it in Brassica. Distribution data, photographs, and a description of B. tournefortii are presented herein. Moreover, potential changes in the distribution of B. tournefortii were predicted under different climate scenarios, but our analysis showed that the probability of the spreading of this species is low. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring is necessary for an accurate assessment. The results of the present study can be used to conduct an invasion risk assessment and can assist with the effective management of this invasive alien species.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2011

Lycorma delicatula (White 1845), which has been recently introduced into Korea, is a notorious pest on grapes. This invasive insect has rapidly spread throughout central and southern Korea. To date, we have no behavioral or population genetics information, such as invasion routes and subsequent dispersal rates in Korea, to help understand and control populations of L. delicatula. Here, we have developed 15 novel microsatellite loci for L. delicatula. The isolated loci were polymorphic, with 2 to 19 alleles in 42 individuals from a single population in Korea. The analyses revealed that all 42 individuals had different multilocus genotypes with heterozygosity ranging from 0.214 to 0.866. Eleven of the 15 loci did not deviate significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The isolated markers will facilitate population genetic studies of L. delicatula.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3975-3978
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• 2013

Background: Proteases play a regulatory role in a variety of pathologies including cancer, pancreatitis, thromboembolic disorders, viral infections and many others. One of the possible strategies to combat these pathologies seems to be the use of protease inhibitors. LC-pi I, II, III and IV (Lavatera cashmerian-protease inhibitors) have been found in vitro to strongly inhibit trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase, proteases contributing to tumour invasion and metastasis, indicated possible anticancer effects. The purpose of this study was to check in vitro anticancer activity of these four inhibitors on human lung cancer cell lines. Material and Methods: In order to assess whether these inhibitors induced in vitro cytoxicity, SRB assay was conducted with THP-1 (leukemia), NCIH322 (lung) and Colo205, HCT-116 (colon) lines. Results: LC-pi I significantly inhibited the cell proliferation of all cells tested and also LC-pi II was active in all except HCT-116. Inhibition of cell growth by LC-pi III and IV was negligible. $IC_{50}$ values of LC-pi I and II for NCIH322, were less compared to other cell lines suggesting that lung cancer cells are more inhibited. Conclusion: These investigations might point to future preventive as well as curative solutions using plant protease inhibitors for various cancers, especially in the lung, hence warranting their further investigation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.6 s.119
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• pp.39-53
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• 2007

Unlike conventional roof landscaping, where various kinds of plants and structures are employed, a grass roof is a roof on which herbaceous plants are grown in planting medium and which is not accessed or maintained, mainly because it doesn't have sufficient load capacity to support a regular roof garden. They are mostly built on existing roofs, whether flat slab or gabled. Planting on roofs has numerous advantages, such as creating a biotope, purifying urban air, adding moisture to the atmosphere, storing rain water, preventing flash floods, reducing energy use for heating and air conditioning, enhancing the urban landscape and providing relaxation to the city dwellers, not to mention the alleviation of global warming by absorbing $CO_2$. In addition to the general merits of roof planting, the grass roof has its own unique qualities. Only herbaceous species are planted on the roof, resulting in light weight which allows roofs of existing buildings to be planted without structural reinforcement. The species chosen are mostly short, tough perennials that don't need to be maintained. These conditions provide an ideal situation where massive planting can be done in urban areas where roofs are often the only and definitely the largest space available to be planted. If roofs are planted on a massive scale they can play a significant role in alleviating global warming, heat island effects and energy shortages. Despite the advantages of grass roofs, there are some problems. The most significant problem is the invasion of neighboring plants. They may be brought in with the planting medium, by birds or by wind. These plants have little aesthetic value comparing to the chosen species and are usually taller. Eventually they dominate and prevail over the original species. The intended planting design disappears and the roof comes to look wild. Since the primary value of a grass roof is ecological, a change in attitude towards what constitutes beauty on the roofscape is necessary. Instead of keeping the roof neat through constant maintenance, people must learn that the wild grass with bird's nests on their roof is more beautiful as it is.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2007

Spongy Alphonso mangoes were found to be infected with Staphylococcus bacteria. A Gram positive Staphylococcus strain was isolated from spongy pulp and identified from CABI Bioscience, UK, by partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis and by morphological and biochemical characterization through IMTECH, Chandigarh, India. Although identification by both of these methods indicated the organism belonged to same genus, different species names were given. Changes in total phenolics, reducing, and non-reducing sugars, respiration rate, total carotenoids, peroxidase(POX), and catalase activities were monitored during ripening of these fruits. The climacteric rise in spongy fruits was marked by an increase in respiration rate and a decrease in sugar content. Total phenolics content increased in spongy fruits as compared to ripe non-spongy fruits. Development of corky white tissue in spongy fruits was associated with about a 2.5-fold reduction in total carotenoids and a concomitant increase in lipoxygenase-mediated, $\beta$-carotene co-oxidation. A marked decrease in soluble protein content and about a 1.5-fold increase in POX activity was observed. Maximum POX activity was confined to 50-70%$(NH_4)_2SO_4$ fraction. The intense dark bands visible after POX specific substrate staining of the Native gel indicated a high expression of isoenzymes of POX in spongy fruits. Similarly, changes in levels of catalase activity were also observed in spongy fruits. The results suggest that infection of Alphonso mangoes with Staphylococcus bacteria affects the normal ripening processes of the fruit interfering with the carbohydrate and carotenoid metabolism. Also, the studies indicate the expression of POX and catalase enzymes as a plant defense response to microbial invasion.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.346-356
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• 2004

14 Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) in Korea use a remote monitoring system (RMS), which have been used in Korea since 1998. A Memorandum of Understanding on Remote Monitoring, based on Enhanced Cooperation on PWRs, was signed at the 10th Safeguards Review Meeting in October 2001 between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Ministry Of Science and Technology (MOST). Thereafter, all PWR power plants applied for remote monitoring systems. However, the existing method is high cost (involving expensive telephone costs). So, it was eventually applied to an Internet system for Remote Monitoring. According to the Internet-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) applied to Remote Monitoring, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) came to an agreement with the IAEA, using a Member State Support Program (MSSP). Phase I is a Lab test. Phase II is to apply it to a target power plant. Phase III is to apply it to all the power plants. This paper reports on the penetration testing of Phase I. Phase I involved both domestic testing and international testing. The target of the testing consisted of a Surveillance Digital Integrated System (SDIS) Server, IAEA Server and TCNC (Technology Center for Nuclear Control) Server. In each system, Virtual Private Network (VPN) system hardware was installed. The penetration of the three systems and the three VPNs was tested. The domestic test involved two hacking scenarios: hacking from the outside and hacking from the inside. The international test involved one scenario from the outside. The results of tests demonstrated that the VPN hardware provided a good defense against hacking. We verified that there was no invasion of the system (SDIS Server and VPN; TCNC Server and VPN; and IAEA Server and VPN) via penetration testing.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Korean ginseng is a medicinally important perennial herb from the family Araliaceae. It has been cultivated for its highly valued medicinal properties for over 1,000 years in east Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan. Due to its longtime cultivation in shady areas, ginseng is frequently exposed to pathogenic infections. Plants protect themselves from microbial pathogens using an array of defense mechanisms, some of which are constitutively active, while others are activated upon pathogen invasion. These induced defense responses, controlled by defense-related genes, require tradeoffs in terms of plant fitness. We hypothesize that ginseng, as with other plants, possesses regulatory mechanisms that coordinate the activation of attacker-specific defenses in order to minimize fitness costs while attaining optimal resistance. Several classes of defense-related genes are induced by infection, wounds, irradiation, and other abiotic stresses. Both salicylates and jasmonates have been shown to cause such responses, although their specific roles and interactions in signaling and development are not fully understood in ginseng. This review summarizes possible defense-related genes in ginseng based on their expression patterns against biotic and abiotic stresses and describes their functional roles.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2003

In order to clarify the successional trend and its characteristics of plant community in abandoned field in Cheju Island, we investigated the seral changes of vegetation height, coverage, growth form, species richness, diversity and dominance index along with the time lapse, and then compared with those of mainland researches. And in order to seek the overall trend of vegetation changes, we used cluster, TWINSPAN and PCA ordination techniques. The succession was characterized by the lower species number, lower vegetation height, longer period of herb dominant and later invasion of tree species. These results may come from that ecological traits of Cheju Island itself, and ecosystem fragmented influences that block a seed (propagule) transport. Sere of the dominant species was shown as follows: Mazus japonicus(0.5∼1 years)→Conyza sumatrensis (2 years)→Artemisia princeps var. orientalis(4 years)→Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, indigofera pseudotinctoria(5 years)→Rosa multiflora, Miscanthus sinensis, etc.(8 years)→Miscanthus sinensis(12 years)→Boehmeria nivea, Pueraria thunbergiana etc.(15 years)→Mallotus japonicus(20 years)→Litsea japonica, Machilus thunbergii (20 years<). Abandoned fields were classified into three groups according to time lapse; earlier stage(0∼1 years), middle stage(2∼8 years) and later stage(8∼20 years).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.133-148
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• 2014

In order to investigate community formation ability, herbaceous perennials such as Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne, Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. and Arundinella hirta Tanaka were planted in April 2009 at the levee slope of Gwangju Stream in South Korea. Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne and Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. which grew in pots for two years and divided rhizomes of Arundinella hirta Tanaka gathered from fields were employed. Weeds growing on the experiment sites were removed twice a year until 2011 when the plant species were formed into community. Weeds were not eradicated during 2012 and 2013 to observe community sustainability of the species. T-tests on stem numbers and heights in May, July and September were conducted between 2011 and 2012, and between 2012 and 2013. Stem numbers of the five species in 2012 were significantly reduced(p<0.001) compared with those in 2011, which were attributed to weed growth in 2012. Heights of Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne, Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. and Arundinella hirta Tanaka in 2012 were significantly lower than those in 2011(p<0.001), which resulted from weed invasion. Heights of Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham in May and July 2012 were significantly decreased compared with those in 2011(p<0.001), however, heights of Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham in September 2012 were almost the same as those in 2011(p>0.05). Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham was able to compete against weeds in September 2012. Stem numbers and heights of Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne and Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. in 2013 were similar to those in 2012(p>0.05). However, stem numbers and heights of Arundinella hirta Tanaka in 2013 were significantly decreased compared with those in 2012(p<0.001). After community formation, Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne and Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. were able to maintain its community without weed removal. However, Arundinella hirta Tanaka was unable to establish its community due to the weed growth. Miscanthus sacchariflorus Bentham, Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens Rendle, Imperata cylindrica Linne are more suitable to stream levee slope environment in terms of community formation and maintenance, stream landscape enhancement and slope erosion control.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2002

Dwarf bamboo(Sasa borealis) is a dominant understory species in the various forest types in Korea. The objective of this study was to investigate vegetation structure of Sasa borealis and effects of Sasa on the growth of overstory tree species along the forest development after clearcutting. Three representative stand types with and without S. borealis in Baekwoonsan, Chonnam province were selected in 1998 for this study: uncutting stands(natural deciduous forests with overstory vegetation), 1987-cutting stands (11 years after clearcutting), and 1993-cutting stands(5 years after clearcuting). Vegetation type was largely classified into Sasa borealis dominant type and Sasa borealis recessive or absent type. The former composed of four associations including Quercus serrata-Carpinus laxiflora / Sasa borealis community, Cornus controversa-Morus bombysis / Sasa borealis community, Styrax japonica-Styrax obassia / Sasa borealis association, Zelkova serrata / Sasa borealis community. The latter divided into six associations including Quercus serrata / Lindera erythrocarpa community, Cornus controversa / Lindera erythrocarpa community, Quercus serrata / Acer pseudosieboldianum / Deutzia glabrata community, Fraxinus rhynchophylla-Quercus serrata / Lindera erythrocarpa / Euonymus alataus community, Rubus crataegifolius-Hydrangea macrophylla community, Rubus crataegifolius-Lespedeza bicolor community. Distribution of Sasa, borealis by developmental stages of forests showed that in natural stands was dominant understory, but was various pattern in two cutting stands. Mean annual ring growth of Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora during the last 35 years had not been affected by presence of Sasa, based on comparisons in annual ring growth between Sasa-present and Sasa-absent stands. In conclusion, dense crown of Sasa borealis suppressed the invasion of other shrubs or annuals and facilitated later stages of plant succession by promoting growth of shade-tolerant tree species after clear cutting.